Present Simple and Present Continuous

We use the Present Simple

• When we talk about habits we do again and again "I go fishing every weekend."
• When we talk about actions that are always true "In England people drive on the left."
• When we talk about actions which always happen and when we describe people "Javier comes from Spain and he works in a bank."
• When we tell the story about a book or a film "Brad Pitt plays the part of a gangster in the film."
• When we use adverbs like always, often, never and usually. "I never listen to the radio."
• When we use state verbs like think and agree "I agree with your opinion."

We use the Present Continuous

• When we talk about an action that is happening at the time we are speaking "We are leaving now."
• For actions which are happening at the present but only for a short time "I'm staying at my friend's house this week."
• For actions which may happen around the present but not necessarily at that moment "I'm reading a great book at present."
• For the future "She is arriving next week."
• When we strongly complain about something using always and constantly "That dog is constantly making a noise."

Now fill in the blanks with the present simple or present progressive form of the verb in brackets.

Link: Can you name these tenses?

• 1 - I (see) my brother once a month.
• 2 - I don't know what (happen) to me at the moment.
• 3 - Samantha always (take) the bus to work.
• 4 - They (be) all in the pool.
• 5 - Fresh bread (smell) wonderful.
• 6 - He's outside (smoke) a cigarette.
• 7 - Ben is constantly (talk) in class.
• 8 - What are you doing? I (imagine) what university life will be like.
• 9 - I (read) a lot of crime books these days.
• 10 - I (think) she is correct